Managing a global organization for teenage boys isn't exactly a walk in the park. Honestly, most people think the Young Men General Presidency just shows up for a few speeches at General Conference and calls it a day. That couldn't be further from the truth. These three men, currently Steven J. Lund, Bradley R. Wilcox, and Michael T. Nelson, are basically the architects for the spiritual and social development of hundreds of thousands of young men in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It’s a massive, sprawling operation.
They don't just sit in Salt Lake City. They travel. A lot. Don't forget to check out our earlier article on this related article.
Think about the logistics for a second. You’ve got different cultures, different economic backgrounds, and vastly different needs across every continent. A kid in Nairobi isn't dealing with the exact same social pressures as a kid in Boise, yet the presidency has to create a framework that works for both of them. It's about finding that weird, difficult balance between universal principles and local flexibility.
Who Actually Runs the Young Men General Presidency?
Right now, the leadership consists of three guys with pretty diverse backgrounds. Steven J. Lund serves as the General President. Before this, he was a big deal in the business world, specifically as the executive chairman of Nu Skin Enterprises. You can see that organizational DNA in how he approaches the role. He’s joined by Bradley R. Wilcox, a guy many people know as a professor at BYU and a prolific author, and Michael T. Nelson, who has a deep background in investment and property management. If you want more about the background here, Apartment Therapy offers an in-depth summary.
It’s a mix of corporate strategy and educational heart.
They weren't just picked at random. These men are sustained by the membership of the Church, but they report directly to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. That’s a key detail people often miss. They aren't an autonomous body. They are an advisory group that executes a vision handed down from the very top of the Church hierarchy. They spend their days in meetings discussing everything from mental health resources to how to make summer camps more engaging without breaking the bank for families in developing nations.
The Massive Shift from Scouting
If you want to understand why the Young Men General Presidency is so busy right now, you have to look at the "Scouting breakup." For over a century, the Church was the largest sponsor of the Boy Scouts of America. It was a cultural bedrock. Then, in 2020, everything changed. The Church moved to the "Children and Youth" program.
That shift was tectonic.
Suddenly, the presidency had to build a brand-new global curriculum from scratch. No more merit badges or pre-packaged scouting handbooks. Instead, they moved to a model focused on four areas: spiritual, social, physical, and intellectual. It sounds simple on paper, but implementing that across thousands of congregations is a nightmare of communication.
Basically, they traded a rigid, external structure for something much more personal. The idea is that a 14-year-old boy should decide his own goals. If he wants to learn to code, that’s his "intellectual" goal. If he wants to run a 5k, that’s "physical." The presidency's job is to make sure the local adult leaders actually support those kids instead of just checking boxes. It’s a move toward "mentorship" rather than "supervision."
What They Actually Do All Day
It isn't all high-level strategy. A huge chunk of their time is spent on "training the trainers." They produce a staggering amount of digital content—videos, social media posts, and manuals—designed to help a 24-year-old volunteer leader in a rural town understand how to talk to a teenager about faith or anxiety.
They are also the face of the Church for the youth. You'll see Bradley R. Wilcox on Instagram or YouTube, often speaking at "For the Strength of Youth" (FSY) conferences. These aren't just small firesides; they are massive, multi-day events that require incredible coordination. The presidency oversees the curriculum for these conferences to ensure the message is consistent.
The Mental Health Focus
One thing that has surfaced more recently is their focus on emotional resilience. You've probably noticed that teenagers today are stressed out. Like, really stressed. The presidency has been working closely with professional clinicians to bake "resilience" into the youth program. This isn't just about prayer; it's about practical tools for handling failure and rejection.
- They emphasize that it’s okay to not be okay.
- They’ve pushed for more open dialogues about modern pressures.
- They advocate for adult leaders to be a safe "third-party" adult for kids to talk to.
Breaking Down the "Aaronic Priesthood" Connection
In the Church, the Young Men organization is synonymous with the Aaronic Priesthood. This means the Young Men General Presidency is essentially overseeing the "preparatory priesthood." They are preparing these boys for what the Church calls "The Melchizedek Priesthood" and, eventually, full-time missionary service.
It’s a pipeline.
But they’ve been very vocal about the fact that it shouldn't feel like a factory. President Lund has often spoken about the "power of the individual." He’s big on the idea that every young man has a specific "errand" or purpose. The presidency spends a lot of time trying to figure out how to foster that sense of individual identity in a global church that sometimes feels very monolithic.
The Critics and the Challenges
Look, it’s not all perfect. People have opinions. Some older members still miss the Scouting days and feel like the new program is a bit "too loose." They worry that without the structure of merit badges, boys will just drift.
The presidency has to navigate that tension. They have to convince the parents and the grandparents that this new way is actually better for the current generation. It’s a massive PR job.
Then there’s the global disparity. How do you create a "physical goal" program for a kid who lives in an apartment in Tokyo versus a kid on a farm in Brazil? The presidency’s solution has been to lean heavily into the "Youth" app (Living for Youth). They’re trying to use technology to bridge the gap, but they know that not every kid has a smartphone. They’re constantly iterating. It’s a work in progress. Honestly, it probably always will be.
Why This Group Matters for the Future
The Church is aging in many parts of the world, particularly in North America and Europe. The Young Men General Presidency is essentially the "retention department." If they can’t keep the young men engaged between the ages of 12 and 18, the future of the Church’s leadership looks shaky.
That’s why you see them being so aggressive with digital outreach. They know where the kids are. They’re on TikTok, they’re on YouTube, and they’re looking for authenticity. The presidency has moved away from the "suit and tie" stiffness of the 80s and 90s. While they still wear the suits, the tone has shifted. It’s more "we’re in this together" and less "here are the rules you must follow."
Specific Actionable Insights for Local Leaders and Parents
If you are working with these youth or you're a parent trying to make sense of the direction the Young Men General Presidency is taking, there are some very specific things you can do to align with their current vision:
1. Stop over-programming. The presidency is begging local leaders to stop planning every minute of every activity. Let the boys lead. If they want to play dodgeball for the third week in a row, let them—but ask them how they can make it inclusive or how it helps them build a specific skill.
2. Use the "Living for Youth" App. It’s not just another app. It’s the primary way the presidency communicates new ideas. If you aren't using the "Circles" feature for your local group, you’re missing the social glue they’re trying to build.
3. Focus on "The Why." The current presidency is obsessed with purpose. Don't just tell a young man to go to church; help him figure out how his presence there actually helps someone else. Service is the "secret sauce" they are pushing right now.
4. Normalize the struggle. Take a page out of Brother Wilcox’s book and talk about grace. The presidency is moving away from a "perfection-only" narrative. They want boys to know that repentance and "trying again" is the whole point, not a backup plan for when they mess up.
Real-World Impact
I’ve seen this play out in local wards. When a bishop actually listens to the Young Men General Presidency and lets the 16-year-old "Deacons Quorum President" actually run the meeting, the energy changes. It’s no longer an adult-led lecture. It becomes a peer-led community. That’s the "holy grail" for this presidency.
They want to create a world where young men don't just "attend" church, but they "are" the church.
It’s a tall order. The distractions are endless—gaming, sports, social media, school pressure. The presidency knows they are competing for a very limited amount of "mindshare." Their strategy isn't to out-entertain the world, but to provide something the world doesn't: a sense of belonging and a clear, divine identity.
Moving Forward
The Young Men General Presidency isn't a static entity. As the current members complete their service (usually after about five years), a new group will come in with their own perspectives. But the core mission won't change. They are the gatekeepers of the next generation of priesthood leadership.
The focus will likely continue to shift toward global inclusivity and mental health support. Expect to see more localized content and fewer "one-size-fits-all" mandates from Salt Lake. They’re leaning into the idea of "localized inspiration," which basically means they give the principles and let the kids and leaders on the ground figure out the details.
To stay truly updated on what they’re doing, you should keep an eye on the official Church Newsroom and the "For the Strength of Youth" social media channels. That’s where the real-time adjustments to the program happen. Don't wait for a twice-yearly conference to see where the ship is heading; the presidency is dropping clues and new resources every single week through digital channels.
Ultimately, the success of the presidency isn't measured in how many manuals they print. It’s measured in whether a kid in a tough neighborhood feels like he has a purpose and a community that actually cares about him. That’s the real job. Everything else is just logistics.
